Jimmy Fallon is known for many things: acting, hosting on television, writing, producing, cracking jokes, and even singing. On New York City-based The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, sometimes you just don’t know what Jimmy will do or say as he features different A-list celebrities on his late night show.
On an episode with the singer of “Uptown Girl,” Billy Joel AKA Piano Man, Jimmy had an idea that none of us, not even Billy, was expecting. “To sing with you is the craziest thing, so I came up with an idea that maybe I could sing with you,” nervous Jimmy said to the singer-songwriter, which Billy agreed to.
Jimmy chose a fun yet challenging song: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the doo-wop-styled vocal group, The Tokens. Pulling out his iPad, Jimmy opens an app called Loopy HD which will loop the duo’s doo-wop sounds in the background in four-part harmony, so they can sing the lyrics without the need for doo-wop background singers!
First, the two record their “a-weema-weh’s” in different notes into the looper, Jimmy’s hands are literally shaking. We’re not sure if he’s fangirling over Billy Joel or incredibly nervous that his plan to sing with Billy will be a failure!
But all is good because the looper successfully produces exactly what the duo want. Then Jimmy starts singing the song’s first line of the 1961 song:
“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. In the jungle, the quiet jungle the lion sleeps tonight.”
In a powerful voice, Billy gives the next verse a go on his own:
“Near the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight. Near the village, the quiet village, the lion sleeps tonight.”
Then the duo equally shares the final verse with a band playing live in the background:
“Hush my darling, don’t fear my darling, the lion sleeps tonight. Hush my darling, don’t fear my darling, the lion sleeps tonight.”
After the third and final verse, the crowd cheers loudly as the duet was an absolute success! Who would have thought Jimmy Fallon and Billy Joel would be singing live together on stage, let alone, be doo-wopping together? This moment was iconic, that’s for sure.
What’s most amazing about this live performance is that is was unrehearsed and quite spontaneous, so kudos to the two singers for making it work the first time around!
You’ll be impressed when you hear Jimmy and Billy’s duet in the video below!
